Motor News

BMW’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment update is designed to mimic smartphones more than before.The updated operating system’s home screen will allows quicker access to functions and a more configurable layout.This summer, iDrive 8.5 will be available on models that currently have iDrive 8; these include all EVs, the X5 SUV through the new plug-in-hybrid XM, and the 7-series.The first iDrive system that debuted in 2001 on the E65-generation BMW 7-series included a control knob meant to mimic a computer’s mouse. The proliferation of smartphones over the past decade-plus has conditioned many people to pinch, poke, or swipe their fingers on a screen to make things happen. BMW is in the business of giving consumers what they want, which is why the iDrive 8.5 infotainment update the company is releasing this summer will be more smartphone-like than ever. For models that currently have iDrive 8, the revised infotainment software will be available via production or an over-the-air (OTA) update. The list of BMWs includes the 7-series, the electric i4 and iX, the mid-size SUVs (X5, X6, and X7), and also the plug-in-hybrid XM.BMW says iDrive 8.5 will have a home screen that’s designed to make smartphone-users feel more, well, at home. Along with clearly arranged functions, the updated infotainment system is said to have a menu structure that’s akin to, say, an iPhone. People using iDrive 8.5 will have the ability to customize and reconfigure the home screen. The updated interface will also have fewer layers, meaning less menu diving, which should translate to fewer distractions. With iDrive 8.5, there’s a vertical section on the driver’s side of the infotainment screen that allows quick access to functions such as media, navigation, vehicle settings, and more. To return to the home screen, people can simple touch the “home” icon at the bottom of the display.BMWThese newly introduced infotainment features coincide with BMW’s stated mission of prioritizing touch and voice controls. This philosophy further evolves with the introduction of iDrive 9, which will debut on the 2024 BMW X1. Unlike version 8.5, which uses a Linux-based operating system, the ninth installment of iDrive will feature Android software. Unfortunately for those of us who prefer physical controls like those in the E65 7-series, the future of BMW’s iDrive looks knobless.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

The U.S. version of the VW ID.Buzz electric van will debut in June, Volkswagen has confirmed.It will have a long-wheelbase configuration and seven seats as standard.It will arrive for the 2025 model year and will go on sale in the U.S. in summer 2024.UPDATE 3/13/23: VW confirmed to C/D that the U.S.-bound ID.Buzz will arrive for the 2025 model year and that it will go on sale on our shores a year after the debut, in June 2024. We have updated this story accordingly.VW’s Microbus revival, the electric ID.Buzz van, is already on sale in Europe, and now we’re finally getting some updates on the U.S. version and when it will arrive on our shores. Volkswagen has confirmed that the long-wheelbase version of the Buzz will make its debut in June before going on sale in America for the 2024 model year. Our spy photographers have also spotted a prototype of the LWB van testing in wintry conditions, giving us our first look at this different configuration.KGP Photography|Car and DriverVolkswagenThe difference between the short-wheelbase European model and the long-wheelbase U.S. model is most obvious if you look at the length of the rear sliding doors. Otherwise, the two look nearly identical on the outside. The U.S. version will come standard with three rows of seats and should offer seating for seven passengers, while the Euro version has two rows of seats. We expect some other interior trim differences, although we’re hoping that the fun interior color options make their way to our market.More on the BuzzVW has also told us that the bigger U.S.-bound Buzz will have a larger battery pack than the 77.0-kWh pack available elsewhere. The base model will have a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive upgrade will be optional and should offer the same 295 horsepower as the AWD option in the ID.4 SUV. KGP Photography|Car and DriverThe Buzz won’t go on sale in the U.S. until a year after the debut, as a VW spokesperson told C/D that it will arrive on our shores in June 2024. Look for more information to come when the 2025 ID.Buzz makes its official debut in June, including pricing, range estimates, and more.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

The U.S. version of the VW ID.Buzz electric van will debut in June, Volkswagen has confirmed.It will have a long-wheelbase configuration and seven seats as standard.We expect it to arrive for the 2024 model year, meaning it could go on sale late this year or early next year.VW’s Microbus revival, the electric ID.Buzz van, is already on sale in Europe, and now we’re finally getting some updates on the U.S. version and when it will arrive on our shores. Volkswagen has confirmed that the long-wheelbase version of the Buzz will make its debut in June before going on sale in America for the 2024 model year. Our spy photographers have also spotted a prototype of the LWB van testing in wintry conditions, giving us our first look at this different configuration.KGP Photography|Car and DriverVolkswagenThe difference between the short-wheelbase European model and the long-wheelbase U.S. model is most obvious if you look at the length of the rear sliding doors. Otherwise, the two look nearly identical on the outside. The U.S. version will come standard with three rows of seats and should offer seating for seven passengers, while the Euro version has two rows of seats. We expect some other interior trim differences, although we’re hoping that the fun interior color options make their way to our market.More on the BuzzVW has also told us that the bigger U.S.-bound Buzz will have a larger battery pack than the 77.0-kWh pack available elsewhere. The base model will have a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower, and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive upgrade will be optional and should offer the same 295 horsepower as the AWD option in the ID.4 SUV. KGP Photography|Car and DriverLook for more information to come when the 2024 ID.Buzz makes its U.S. debut in June, including pricing, range estimates, and a more concrete on-sale date.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

Lamborghini CEO Stefan Winkelmann confirmed the Huracán’s replacement will arrive by the end of 2024 as a plug-in hybrid. Winkelmann confirmed the Urus SUV will switch to a hybrid powertrain in 2024 as well.Lamborghini will also introduce two EVs by the decade’s end; the first will arrive in 2028, with an electric Urus following in 2029. Despite Italy generally opposing the European Union’s plan for carbon neutrality by 2035, one of its most famous carmakers is stepping up its electrification plans. Lamborghini CEO Stefan Winkelmann recently confirmed two upcoming hybrid models and laid a road map for its first two EVs.Lamborghini Hybrids on the WayLast Friday, during a presentation in Sant’Agata, Italy, Winkelmann told reporters the Huracán’s successor will arrive at the end of 2024, and that it would be a plug-in hybrid. This news comes courtesy of our sister publication, Road & Track, who also reported that Winkelmann said the Urus SUV will switch to a hybrid powertrain in 2024.”And then we’ll model the Urus as a hybrid in 2024,” Winkelmann told reporters. “And at the end of ’24 the brand-new Huracán will come to market.”A Lamborghini spokesperson today confirmed to Car and Driver that both of Winkelmann’s statements are true.LamborghiniLambo’s First EVs Are Coming TooWe’ve known that Winkelmann is bullish on EVs since we talked to him in person in 2021. The comments reported by R&T also line up with what he said back then, when Lamborghini announced plans to electrify every vehicle in its portfolio by the end of 2024.What we’ve learned today—both from the R&T report and via direct confirmation from a company spokesperson—is Lamborghini’s official plans for its first two electric models. “In ’28 and ’29 we will have our first two BEVs,” Winkelmann reportedly said. “It will be the first one to be completely a BEV car in 2028. And then in 2029 there will be the new Urus.”Simply put, Lamborghini’s first EV will be an unknown car that arrives in 2028. Its second EV will be an all-electric successor to the current Urus, and it’ll arrive in 2029. More LamborghiniNot Lamborghini’s First Hybrid RodeoWe should note that when Lamborghini reveals the plug-in-hybrid replacement for the Aventador, it won’t be the company’s first hybrid rodeo. We recently learned the successor to the Aventador (referenced with the internal code LB744) will be powered by a hybrid V-12 that generates up to 1001 horsepower. It features three electric motors, with two up front and one integrated to the new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.Lamborghini is also diving further into motorsports, with a commitment to LMDH racing in 2024 as it gears up for a hybrid future. Back in 2021, Lamborghini sold a very limited number of the exotic Sián, an 808-hp V-12 hybrid based on the Aventador.Hopefully, the Italian brand has made some strides in hybrid technology since then, as the Sián matched the Aventador’s EPA-rated city and combined mpg, while netting one mpg worse (14 versus 15) in its highway number. Not great, Roberto.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV’s starting prices range from $79,050 for the EQE350 to $90,650 for the EQE500.Unlike with the sedan version, Mercedes offers the rear-drive EQE350+ and the all-wheel-drive EQE350 4Matic at the same price. The ’23 EQE SUV’s three powertrains are offered with three trim levels: Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle.CORRECTION 3/8/23: This story has been updated after a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the company’s original press release incorrectly stated the price of the Pinnacle trim levels on the EQE350 and EQE500 models.Traditionally, automakers charge extra for popular options such as all-wheel drive, but one brand is breaking the mold. When the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV goes on sale this spring, customers will pay the same price for the rear-drive single-motor EQE350+ as the all-wheel-drive dual-motor EQE350 4Matic. Both start at $79,050 in base Premium guise.Price Match, Aisle EQEMercedes continues to price match those two EQE350 powertrain configurations in the two higher trim levels—Exclusive and Pinnacle. They start at $81,150 and $85,000, respectively. While the single-motor EQE350+ and the dual-motor EQE350 4Matic share an identical 288 horsepower, the added motor brings an additional 147 pound-feet of torque (417 versus 564).Mercedes expects that extra grunt to barely affect acceleration, though, as the AWD version’s zero-to-60-mph time is only estimated to be a tenth quicker at 6.2 seconds. The second electric motor could impact its driving range, but we won’t know until Mercedes releases the EQE SUV’s official estimates.For whatever reason, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan doesn’t have a no-cost AWD option. Opting for the dual-motor setup on that car adds $3000. All-wheel drive also costs more on the EQS sedan and the EQS SUV. Top EQE500 Eclipses $96KThe EQE500 4Matic SUV only comes with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive, so its pricing is more straightforward. The Premium trim represents the entry point to its 536-hp powertrain, and it starts at $90,650. Stepping up to the EQE500 adds $2100, for a starting sticker price of $92,750. The Pinnacle is the fanciest trim and approaches the six-figure mark. It starts at $96,600. Mercedes has yet to announce pricing for an upcoming AMG version of the EQE SUV, so stay tuned for that.More on Mercedes’ EQ SUVsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Maserati is returning to grand tourer racing with the GT2, a modified version of the MC20 supercar.The same twin-turbocharged V-6 sits behind the race driver, but it’ll likely make more than the road-legal car’s 621 hp.The GT2-spec MC20 features adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars as well as a huge rear wing to go with plenty of carbon fiber.Maserati will enter the GT2 European Series with a track-ready version of its MC20 supercar. The automaker today revealed the first images of the race car, simply dubbed GT2; a full reveal will take place in June at the 24 Hours of Spa. The GT2 class, confusingly, slots between the GT4 and GT3 cars in terms of performance, and other homologated GT2 cars include versions of the Mercedes-AMG GT, KTM X-Bow, and Brabham BT63. MaseratiThe GT2-spec MC20 will share the Nettuno twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with the road-going version. In the production MC20, the engine pumps out 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque, but Maserati says the race car takes it “to a higher level.” Maserati also highlights the carbon-fiber central monocoque and lightweight, full-composite bodywork, which has quick-release panels in case they need replacing mid-race.MaseratiThe MC20’s suspension has also been revised for GT2 competition, with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars front and rear. The GT2 receives electric power steering and a six-speed sequential paddle-shift gearbox, while the extreme aerodynamic package includes dive planes on the front bumper and a gigantic rear wing. Inside, the carbon-fiber dashboard has an integrated 10-inch display but is otherwise fairly bare bones.More New MaseratisThe arrival of the MC20-based GT2 continues Maserati’s return to motorsports, which started with the brand’s entry into Formula E this year. So far, the Maserati Formula E team has scored three points and suffered four retirements over the first five rounds.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

BMW is updating the M4 and 4-series lineups for 2024 with new infotainment and a few other changes.These coupes and convertibles, plus the four-door Gran Coupe, now have the same curved display screens that their 3-series and M3 sedan stablemates added for 2023.The 2024 M4 and 4-series will start arriving in the U.S. this month.BMW is porting over the same new screens from many of its latest models into the M4 and 4-series range for 2024. The 4-series coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe, plus the M4 coupe and convertible, now come standard with the “curved display” setup that’s also found in the 3-series sedan and many other new BMWs.2024 BMW M4 coupeBMWThis consists of a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch screen in the middle of the dashboard, both of which are housed under a single curved piece of glass. This also means that the 4-series and M4 now run the latest iDrive 8 software, which has updated graphics and menu structures, plus an upgraded BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant voice-command function.More on BMWBMW hasn’t released many photos of the 2024 models at this point, but we’ve included images of the M4 coupe and the 4-series Gran Coupe cabins with this new layout. The 4-series also has a different gear shifter that’s a small toggle on the center console. There are trim differences, too, including standard black trim on the window surround for the M440i and different aluminum trim called Rhombicle.2024 BMW 4-series Gran CoupeBMWBMW says that the 2024 models will start arriving this month. Pricing isn’t out yet for the 2024 4-series, but the 2024 M4 starts at $77,995 for the coupe, $81,935 for the 503-hp Competition coupe, and $92,935 for the convertible.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

Lamborghini announces a new, hybridized 6.5-liter V-12 powertrain that makes up to 1001 horsepower.It features three electric motors, two up front and one integrated to a new, Lamborghini-designed, eight-speed double-clutch transmission.The full car will be shown—and its name revealed—at the end of the month.We can’t show you what the replacement for the Lamborghini Aventador looks like yet, or even tell you its name—the company refers to it exclusively by the internal code, LB744. But we can share details on its extraordinary new plug-in-hybrid powertrain.The good news is the continued existence of a naturally aspirated V-12 engine, one that has been core to the appeal of the company’s more expensive models since its foundation. The new 6.5-liter L545 engine is effectively a heavy development of the one that powered the Aventador, but with more power, more revs, less weight, and a compression ratio raised to 12.6:1. Lamborghini says the new engine’s mass of 481 pounds makes it 37 pounds lighter than the Aventador’s V-12, while its power output has increased to 814 horsepower delivered at a searing 9250 rpm—with the limiter not calling time until 9500 rpm. It also makes a peak of 535 pound-feet of torque at 6750 rpm. But while the Aventador’s V-12 sent power forward to a single-clutch gearbox positioned ahead of it, the new engine has been flipped by 180 degrees, with power going through a new, Lamborghini-designed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted transversely behind it.LamborghiniBut this V-12 is only one part of the new powertrain, being assisted by no fewer than three electric motors. At the front, a pair of axial-flux motors power each wheel separately, allowing torque vectoring. There is no mechanical link from the engine to the front axle; the LB744’s all-wheel-drive system is always part electric.At the back, a third motor is incorporated into the transmission, which due to a clever clutching mechanism can switch between acting as starter motor and generator or adding power to the rear axle. Each motor can deliver up to 148 horsepower, although the combined peak is always less than three times that due to the current flow supported by the battery. The maximum combined output is quoted as an impressively potent 1001 horsepower—slightly more than the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Latest LamborghinisElectrical charge is stored in a compact 3.8-kWh battery pack that sits in what would previously have been considered the transmission tunnel within the cabin, allowing a low seating position on either side of it. Lamborghini hasn’t released a weight claim for the battery, but for reference the claimed capacity is far less than the corresponding figures for the Ferrari 296GTB and SF90, and also the McLaren Artura, suggesting the Lambo’s should be lighter and provide fewer electric miles. We do have weight figures for the front motors—41 pounds—and the double-clutch transmission, which is 425 pounds including the weight of the integral electric motor. LamborghiniWhen depleted, the battery can be recharged from a socket, via regenerative braking using the front motors, or with the V-12 acting as a generator. The latter is claimed to completely replenish the pack in just six minutes. Therefore, it should be possible to be quickly brought back to full strength when driven on track. Lamborghini also says the new DCT gearbox will support a “continuous downshifting” function, holding the left paddle while decelerating progressively and selecting the lowest possible gear as speed falls. Lamborghini promises to release more technical details of the new car before the finished version is formally unveiled at the end of the month. We’ll keep you posted. Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoEuropean EditorMike Duff has been writing about the auto industry for two decades and calls the UK home, although he normally lives life on the road. He loves old cars and adventure in unlikely places, with career highlights including driving to Chernobyl in a Lada. More